Turkish forces neutralise PKK/YPG terrorists in Iraq, Syria

Turkish Armed Forces have neutralised two PKK terrorists in the Pençe-Kilit operation (Claw-Lock) area in northern Iraq, Turkish Ministry of Defence shared on social platform X. 

Additionally, one PKK/YPG terrorist was eliminated in the Euphrates Shield operation area in northern Syria, as per Caliber.Az.

Kahraman Türk Silahlı Kuvvetlerimiz; Irak’ın kuzeyindeki Pençe-Kilit Operasyonu bölgesinde tespit ettiği 2 PKK’lı terörist ile Suriye'nin kuzeyindeki Fırat Kalkanı bölgesinde belirlediği 1 PKK/YPG'li teröristi etkisiz hâle getirdi.

Terörü kaynağında yok etmek için öngörülemez,… pic.twitter.com/SxeFFQuU0Z

— T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) September 23, 2024

To eradicate the presence of DEASH along the Syrian border, Türkiye launched "Operation Euphrates Shield" (OES) on August 24, 2016. With support from the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF), the Free Syrian Army cleared territory of 2,015 km² of terrorist forces and neutralised 2,647 militants.

Due to the success of OES, DEASH began to lose territory, ultimately losing all its control in Syria by the end of March 2019, following additional operations by the Global Coalition.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Armed Forces have been conducting cross-border military operations against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in Northern Iraq since the 1980s.

Since 2019, Türkiye has launched a series of operations known as Claw, which include Claw Eagle and Claw Tiger in 2020, and Claw-Lighting and Claw Thunderbolt in 2021. 

By Khagan Isayev